Motion transmitting mechansim



Oct. 14, 1969 M. s. RosEN MOTION TRANSMITTING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 21, 1967 y\' 'YTKW. MELVILLE S. ROSEN ATTORNEYS Oct. 14, 1969 M s. ROSEN MOTION TRANSMITTING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 21, 1967 Isl INVESTOR.

fiELVlLLE s. ROSEN I I '1 ATTORNEYS Yum Oct 14, 1969 M. s. ROSEN 3,472,085

MOTION TRANSMITTING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 21, 1967 4 Sheets-$heet ATTORNEYS Oct. 14, 1969. M. s. ROSEN MOTION TRANSMITTING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 21, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR. MELVILLE S ROSEN M; M W

A T TOR NE Y5 United States Patent 3,472,085 MOTION TRANSMITTING MECHANISM Melville S. Resell, 148-44 61st Road, Flushing, N.Y. 11367 Filed Aug. 21, 1967, Ser. No. 661,962 Int. Cl. F1611 27/02, 25/08; F16g 13/02 U.S. Cl. 7489.2 20 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The disclosure of the present application is directed to a motion transmitting mechanism comprising a flexible chain of pivotally connected links each having a roller engaging a cam track. The cam track may be formed on the periphery of a disc, or by grooves in the face of the disc, so that the chain is advanced a distance of one link for each rotation of the cam disc and between opposed guide tracks which prevent buckling. Mechanism also is provided for preventing lateral movement of the links as they are advanced into the opposed guide tracks. The rollers may be located between links or exteriorly of the links or may extend in different directions from the links.

The present invention relates to a motion transmitting mechanism and more particularly to a mechanism for pushing a flexible chain to transmit motion.

Many operating mechanisms require the transmission of compression forces either with or without a mechanical advantage. Examples of such mechanisms are lifting jacks for use with automobiles, lever mechanisms for raising and lowering windows, elevators, leveling devices and conveyors among many others. Usually such devices require a rigid member to transmit compression forces, but such rigid members many times reduce the range of movement and capabilities of the device. In the case of a lifting jack the rigid motion transmitting member limits the use of the jack to those conditions where the space under the part to be lifted is less than the length of the rigid member. Also, in confined spaces such as the door of an automobile, the movement of any rigid member for raising and lowering a window therein is quite limited.

It has heretofore been proposed to provide articulated thrust members which interlock as they are brought into engagement with each other to form a rigid motion transmitting member for use in compression. However, such thrust members require specially made parts of complicated construction and are usually formed in separate halves with segmented threads which render the parts expensive to manufacture and assemble. It has also been proposed to provide balls in a motion transmitting mechanism to increase its flexibility. Such ball constructions, however, require a continuous race in which the balls are confined. It has also been proposed to use conveyor chains which are confined at least in part in guides, but none of these constructions has a motion transmitting mechanism providing any mechanical advantage for transmitting compression forces.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved motion transmitting mechanism which transmits motion through a flexible element adapted to feed into the mechanism at an angle to the direction of the motion being transmitted.

Another object is to provide a motion transmitting mechanism of the type indicated in which the flexible element may be used to transmit a compression force through either a straight or curved path.

Another object is to provide a self-locking motion transmitting mechanism of the type indicated which will positively transmit motion through a chain in opposite directions.

Still another object is to provide an improved motion transmitting mechanism which is of simple and compact construction, economical to manufacture and one which is reliable in operation.

These and other objects will become more apparent from the following description and drawings in which like characters denote like parts throughout the several views. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a motion transmitting mechanism incorporating the novel features of the present invention and showing a flexible chain feeding into the mechanism in a direction generally at right angles to the direction through which motion is transmitted;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the device illustrated in FIGURE 1 and showing a lifting platform connected to the upper end of the motion transmitting chain;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional side view of the motion transmitting mechanism and showing the roller of one chain link resting on the inner surface of a spiral cam track for advancing the chain;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 showing the cam rotated substantially 270 degrees from the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 to advance the chain into confining guides;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURES 3 and 4 showing the cam rotated nearly 360 degrees from the position shown in FIGURE 3 and a pin on the cam tripping an actuating lever to depress a confining slide;

FIGURE '6 is a sectional plan view taken on line 66 of FIGURE 1 to show a ledge on the guide housing and the position of the slide to hold the links against lateral displacement as the chain is advanced;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view of a motion transmitting mechanism of modified construction in which a chain is advanced between opposed angularly related cam discs;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken on line 88 of FIGURE 7 to show one of the cam discs and the groove forming a continuous cam on the face of the disc;

FIGURE 9 is a front view partly in section of a motion transmitting mechanism of further modified construction;

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken on line 1010 of FIGURE 9 to show the bearing rollers projecting rearwardly from the chain links for engaging the cam track in the face of the cam disc;

FIGURE 11 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 11-11 of FIGURE 10 to show the guide tracks in the housing for confining the links of the chain as it is advanced;

FIGURE 12 is a plan view of a chain of further modified construction in which the successive links are pivotally connected for movement in two right angular directions;

FIGURE 13 is a side elevational view of the chain illustrated in FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 14 is a plan view of chain of a still further modified construction in which the links have brackets for mounting bearing rollers to engage opposed pairs of tracks in the guide housing; and

FIGURE 15 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 15--15 of FIGURE 14 to show the engagement of rollers with the parallel tracks in a confining housing.

In general, the present invention is directed to a motion transmitting mechanism in which a flexible chain of pivotally connected links is advanced by a cam having an inclined track of greater length than the distance that it advances the chain to provide a mechanical advantage. Preferably, the cam track is formed on a rotating disc that engages a roller on or between the links of the chain, and the cam and rollers are so arranged that the chain is advanced a distance of one chain link for each complete rotation of the cam disc. The flexible chain can be delivered from a stored pile into engagement with the cam track at any desired angle, but after engagement with the cam it is confined against lateral movement by engagement of the rollers with opposed guide tracks into which the chain is directed as it is advanced. The cam track may be formed on the periphery of the disc or may be formed by grooves in the face of the disc. The rollers on the chain may be mounted on the pins pivotally connecting adjacent links, either between the links or outside the links on projecting ends of the pins, or may project from the links in a plane angularly related to a plane through the axis of the connecting pins. The links also may be connected to pivot in two right angular directions and have auxiliary rollers therein to roll on opposed pairs of guide tracks in either a straight or curved path.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 to 6 of the drawing, the present invention is shown applied to a motion transmitting mechanism which will hereinafter be referred to as a jack, but it will be understood that the construction may be used as an elevator, leveling means, window actuator, conveyor or other operating device. The mechanism comprises a frame 5 having side plates 6 and 7 held in spaced relation by spacers 8 and screws 9 a distance slightly greater than the width of a chain 10 used for transmitting motion. A base 11 is provided at the bottom of the frame 5 to support it in an upright position and the upper sections of the side plates 6 and 7 have walls 12 and 13 therebetween constituting spacers and attached by additional screws 9. Side plates 6 and 7 and walls 12 and 13 provide a confining housing 18 and the walls 12 and 13 are spaced a distance at least equal to the width of the chain and provide opposed guide tracks 14 and 15 restricting the lateral movement of the chain 10. Chain 10 is guided into the jack by guide plates 16 and 17 positioned between the side plates 6 and 7 and attached thereto by any suitable means. The guide plates 16 and 17 guide the chain 10 into the frame in a generally horizontal direction from a pile of the chain positioned anywhere outside the confines of the frame 5 at the left hand side of the jack.

The flexible chain 10 is advanced by a cam into the confining housing 18 between guide tracks 14 and 15. Cam 20 is in the form of a disc having a cam track 21 on its periphery in the form of a continuous spiral of progressively increasing radii. The cam disc 20 is positioned between the side plates 6 and 7 and is mounted fast on a shaft 22 journaled in the side plates. Shaft 22 has one end projecting laterally from one side plate 6 and mounts a worm wheel 23 thereon, see FIGURES 1 and 6. The cam disc 20 is rotated by a worm 24 meshing with the worm wheel 23 to rotate the shaft 22. Worm 24 is driven by a shaft 25 which may be rotated manually by a hand wheel, but in the illustrated embodiment it is rotated by an electric motor 26. Preferably, the axis of the cam shaft 22 is located slightly to the right of the center line between the guide tracks 14 and 15 as viewed in FIGURE 1 to engage a bearing element on the chain, such as a roller, in offset relation tangentially and thereby reduce the buckling force. The spiral cam track 21 has a reverse curve between its inner and outer peripheries to provide surfaces which may be engaged simultaneously by hearing elements on the chain 10 in a straight line relationship as illustrated in FIGURE 1.

Chain 10 may be of conventional construction comprising pivotally connected alternate links 27 and 28 as shown most clearly in FIGURES 3 and 6. Each of said alternate links 27 and 28 comprises spaced side bars 27a, 27b and 28a, 28b with the overlapping ends of adjacent links pivotally connected by pins 29. Each bearing element on chain 10 is a roller mounted to rotate on each pin 29 between the side bars of the links and of slightly greater diameter than the width of the side bars so that the peripheral edge of each roller projects outwardly beyond the side bars. The rollers 30 on pins 29 are adapted to bear against the cam track 21 as shown most clearly in FIGURES 3 to 5. The reverse curve between the high and the low surfaces of the cam track provides a pocket 31 into which a roller 30 may enter in alignment with the axis of preceding rollers advanced by the cam while resting on the low surface at the same time that the next adjacent roller of the chain 10 bears on its high surface, in the manner illustrated in FIG- URE 1.

As shown in FIGURES 3 to 5 the rollers 30 advanced by came 20 bear against the walls 12 and 13 forming opposed guide tracks 14 and 15 in the confining housing 18 which projects to a position adjacent to periphery of the cam. In addition, each link 27 or 28 is supported at opposite sides against buckling during its advance by a ledge 32 projecting inwardly from the side wall 7 at the right hand side of the side bar 27a or 2811 of link 27 or 28 and a slide 34 mounted in a recess 35 in the housing at the left hand side of side bar 27b or 28b of link 27 or 28 as viewed in FIGURE 6. Ledge 32 projects inwardly a distance equal to the width of the link bars and is stationary to provide an abutment against which the side bars 27a or 28a of links 27 or 28 abut as they tend to rock forwardly, but the slide 34 must move upwardly to provide a clearance for the chain 20 as it advances. The slide 34 may be of a width to directly contact the side bars 27b or 28b of the links 27 and 28, but in the illustrated embodiment the slide has spaced rollers 37 which bear against the rearward wall of the recess 35 and the rearward edges of the side bars of the chain links.

The slide 34 is actuated by a lever 38 pivoted intermediate its ends on lug 39 projecting from side plate 6 of the confining housing 18 and having a slot 40 in its left hand end as viewed in FIGURES 3 to 5 straddling a pin 41 projecting laterally from the slide. The opposite end of lever 38 projecting to the right from the pivot 42 is connected to one end of a spring 43 which, in turn, is connected to the housing 18. Thus, the spring 43 acts through the lever 38 and pin and slot connection 41, 40 to yieldingly move the slide 34 downwardly to its lowermost position illustrated in FIGURE 3. Side bar 27b or 28b of the next adjacent link 27 or 28 bears against a roller 37 on the slide 34 to lift the slide 34 from the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 to that illustrated in FIGURE 4, and rock the lever 38 against the action of the spring 43. As the cam moves clockwise from the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 to that illustrated in FIGURE 5 the next adjacent chain link is advanced to a position where the next roller 30 can move into the pocket 31 between the inner and outer surfaces of the cam track 21 at which time the spring 43 rocks the lever 38 and acting through the pin and slot connection 41 and 40 moves the slide to the position shown in FIGURE 5 to tuck the lower free end of line 27 or 28 forwardly into alignment with the preceding link which has been advanced. At this time the link 27 or 28 is confined against rocking movement to the right as viewed in FIGURES 3 to 5 by the ledge 32 and to the left by slide 34 to prevent lateral movement of the link as it is advanced. Slide 34 is positively actuated by a pin 44 projecting laterally from the cam disc 20 which engages a cam surface 45 on the edge of lever 38 and rocks the lever from the position shown in FIGURE 4 to that shown in FIGURE 5.

The motion of the chain 10 is transmitted from the interior of the housing 18 to the exterior of the h0l1sing by a triangular plate 48 having its lower end connected to a clevis link by a pivot pin 29 and projected outwardly through a slot 49 in the housing 18, see FIG- URE 2, with the outermost corner of the triangular plate connected to outside straps 50 and 51 by a pin 52 with spacers 53 therebetween. The outside straps 50 and 51 embrace the sides of the confining housing 18 and are connected at the opposite side of the housing by a pin 54 mounting a roller 55. Roller 55 bears against the wall 13 of the housing 18 for rolling movement thereon. One form of the invention having now been described in detail the mode and operation is next explained.

For purposes of description let it be assumed that the end of a chain of connected links 27 and 28 has been inserted through the guides 16 and 17 to a position where a roller 30 between adjacent links overlies the innermost surface of the spiral cam track 21 of cam 20 as shown in FIGURE 1. At this time the pin 44 projecting from the cam disc 20 will have passed by the edge cam 45 on the lever 38 to rock the latter to its lowered position illustrated in FIGURE 3 after which spring 43 will tend to retain roller 37 against a link bar 27b or 28b. The ledge 32 and slide 34 then overlie the side bars 27a, 27b or 28a, 28b, respectively, of a link 27 or 28 to confine it against lateral movement.

To initiate operation of the motion transmitting mechanism, cam disc 20 is rotated by the motor 26 acting through worm 24, worm wheel 23 and cam shaft 22. The cam track 21 of gradually increasing radius rides under the roller 30 to advance the roller and chain 10 from the position shown in FIGURE 3 to that illustrated in FIGURE 4. During such rotation of the cam disc 20 one of the rollers 37 on the slide 34 bears against a side bar 27b or 28b of the next adjacent link which is also being raised and advances the slide with the link. Adjacent the end of a complete revolution of the cam disc 20 the pin 44 projecting therefrom engages the edge cam 45 on the lever 38 and rocks it clockwise to actuate the slide 34 to the position shown in FIGURE 5. As this 1s just prior to the end of one complete revolution of the cam 20 and a roller 30 between link 27 or 28 has been raised to the highest point on the cam, the next adjacent link is moved into the pocket 31 between the inner and outer surfaces of the cam track 21 as shown in FIGURE 1. As the outermost surface of the cam track 21 moves out of engagement with the advanced roller 30 the corresponding roller of the next adjacent link will have engaged the inner surface of the cam. Also, the pin 44 projecting from the cam 20 will have engaged the edge cam 45 on the lever 38 and rocked it from the position shown in FIGURE 5 to that shown in FIGURE 3 to complete the actuation of the slide 34 and insure movement of the next adjacent roller 30 into an operative position with respect to the cam track 21.

As the chain 10 is advanced a distance equal to the length of a link 27 or 28 during each complete revolution of the cam 20, the links and rollers on the connecting pins 29 are directed into the enclosing housing 18 having the opposed guide tracks 14 and 15. The rollers 30 then roll on one or the other of these guide tracks 14 and 15 to prevent lateral movement of the chain links and retain the pivoted links in a substantially rigid condition. The advance of the chain 10 is transmitted to the triangular plate 48 and to the outside straps 50 and 51 to transfer the motion of the chain 10 from the interior to the exterior of the enclosing housing 18. Thus, the flexible chain 10 in addition to transmitting motion can be used to transmit compression forces. By inserting the laterally projecting portion of the triangular plate 48 under a bumper of an automobile the motion transmitting mechanism of the present invention can be used as a jack to raise an automobile wheel off the ground.

The motion transmitting mechanism also can be operated in a reverse direction by reversing the rotation of the worm 24 and worm wheel 23 which, in turn, rotates the cam disc 20 in a reverse direction. Assuming that a roller 30 of chain 10 bears against the outer surface of the cam track 21 as shown in FIGURE 5 so that rotation of the cam 20 counterclockwise from the position shown in FIGURE 3, permits the roller 30 of the chain 10 to follow the cam track inwardly as the radius of the track gradually decreases. The force acting on the top of the chain 10 forces it downwardly and the links 27 and 28 are supported against lateral movement by engagement of its side bars 27a and 27b or 28b with the ledge 32 and slide 34, respectively, until the nose 56 at the outer surface of the cam track 21 has moved under the next adjacent roller 30. At this time, the pin 44 projecting from the side of the cam 20 will have engaged the cam surface 45 atthe edge of lever 38 to rock it clockwise and raise slide 34 and the end of a block 57 projecting from the side of thecam disc, see FIGURE 1, engages the edge of a side bar 27b or 28b and kicks the link forwardly to release the lower roller 30 from engagement with the cam track 21. Thus, the cam disc 20 continues to rotate and lowers the chain 10 one link at a time for every complete revolution of the cam disc.

A motion transmitting mechanism of modified construction and incorporating the present invention is illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8. In this construction a chain 58 of alternate pairs of connected links 59' and 60 feeds between a pair of cam discs 61 and 62 which advance the chain a distance of one link for each revolution of the cam discs. As shown most clearly in FIGURE 7 the pivot pins 63 connecting adjacent pairs of links 59 and 60 extending outwardly beyond the links at each side of the chain and mount rollers 64 and 65 on the outwardly projecting ends at the outside of the links as well as mounting a roller 66 between the links. The cam discs 61 and 62 are inclined at an angle to a medial plane therebetween to permit the chain to enter between the discs at one side and engage the rollers 64 and 65 at the other side. To this end, each cam disc 61 and 62 has a peripheral flange inclined at an angle to the axis of rotation of its disc to provide faces parallel to each other and to said medial plane between the cam discs at one side (top as illustrated in FIGURE 7) and spaced apart at the opposite side (bottom) a distance greater than the Width of the chain. The faces of the cam discs 61 and 62 have grooves 61a and 62a formed therein to provide opposed spiral cam tracks 61b, 61c and 62b, 62c. Rollers 64 and 65 on the ends of pivot pins 63 project into the grooves 61a; and 62a, respectively, and ride on the cam tracks 61b or 610 and 62b or 620. Furthermore, the ends of the continuous spiral cam tracks 61b, 61c and 62b, 62c overlap so that each cam track may simultaneously engage two of the rollers 64 on adjacent links, see FIG- URE 8. It will be understood that the axis of the cams can be offset with respect to the line of the chain the same as in the construction shown in FIGURES 1 to 7, where greater efliciency can be attained.

Cam discs 61 and 62 are mounted on shafts 67 and 68 which, in turn, are rotatably mounted in journal boxes 69 and 70 in pillow blocks 71 and 72. Spur gears 73 and 74 are pinned to the outer ends of shafts 67 and 68 and are driven synchronously by suitable gearing from a prime mover. Spaced guides 76 and 77 form a curved path for leading chain into the space between the cam discs 61 and 62 to engage rollers 64 and 65 in cam tracks 61b and 62b, and overlying the cam discs 61 and 62 adjacent the top thereof as viewed in FIGURE 7 is a confining housing 78 for receiving the chain links advanced by the cam disc 61 and 62 to prevent lateral movement and collapse of the chain.

The modified construction illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8 operates in a manner similar to that described with respect to the form of construction shown in FIG- UR ES 1 to 6 except that the chain 58 is advanced by opposed face cams 61 and 62 instead of by a peripheral cam. Upon simultaneous rotation of the cam discs 61 and 62, the inner edges of the cam tracks 61b and 62b simultaneously engage the projecting rollers 64 and 65 of a chain link. The spiral form of the cam tracks 61b and 62b gradually advance the rollers 64 and 65 and the chain links 59 and 60 connected thereto from the position X to the position Y illustrated in FIGURE 8 at which time the surface will engage the next adjacent roller. During such advance of the chain another section feeds into the space between the cam discs 61 and 62 from a pile of chain as controlled by the spaced guides 76 and 77. The links 59 and 60 of chains 58 advance from the cams 61 and 62 into the confining housing 78 to prevent collapse of the chain the same as in the previously described construction.

Chain 58 is retracted by reversing the direction of rotation of the cam discs 61 and 62 at which time the rollers 64 and 65 are caught in the grooves 61a and 62a and ride on cam tracks 61c and 620 which positively pull the rollers inwardly toward the center of the cam discs.

A still further modified construction is illustrated in FIGURES 9 and in which a chain 80 is advanced by a helical cam track 80 on the face of a single cam disc 82 mounted fast on a shaft 83 rotatably mounted in a pillow block bearing 84. The cam disc 82 has a helical groove 85 cut in its face to form the helical tracks 81 and 81a. A curved guide housing 86 provides a curved path from a horizontal to a vertical direction as shown most clearly in FIGURE 10. The chain 80 in this construction has links 87 pivotally connected by pins 88 for rocking movement to feed the chain through the curved housing 86 as illustrated in FIGURE 11. Each of the links 87 mounts a roller 89 which projects rearwardly toward the face of the cam disc 82 as it approaches its axis. The cam track 81 then engages the rearwardly projecting rollers 89 on successive links 87 to advance the chain 80 a distance of one link for each complete revolution of the cam disc 82. Housing 86 has opposed guide tracks 90 and 91 into which the rollers 89 project to hold the chain against lateral displacement. The extended ends of the pins 88 for pivotally connecting adjacent links 87 also mount rollers 92 which bear against opposed guide tracks 93 and 94 in the housing 86 to further support the chain as it is advanced, see FIGURE 9.

The construction illustrated in FIGURES 9 and 10 operates in a manner generally similar to the form of construction illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8 in that the helical cam track 81 on the face of the cam disc 82 engages the rollers 89 on successive links 87 as it rotates and advances the chain into the housing 86. It will be noted that with this form of construction that the links are supported against lateral movement in two directions. By reversing the direction of rotation of the shaft 83 the chain may be positively retracted by engagement of successive rollers 89 with the cam track 81a formed in the face of the cam disc 82 by the groove 85.

FIGURES 12 and 13 illustrate a chain 95 of still further modified construction in which alternate sets of links of dilferent construction are provided. One such set of links 96 and 97 each comprises a plate having a clevis 96a or 97a, respectively, projecting from its end and the plates of each set are pivotally connected by a pivot pin 98. The clevises 96a and 97a of each adjacent set of links 96 and 97 are connected by bars 99 pivotally connected thereto by pins 100 extending at right angles to pins 98. Thus, the chain 95 is adapted to flex in right angular directions. Pivot pins 100 project beyond the sides of the clevises 96a and 97a and mount rollers 101 for hearing engagement with a cam track or tracks and with guide tracks in a confining housing as described in the preceding constructions. Certain of the bars 99 have laterally projecting lugs 102 for engagement with a part to be operated.

FIGURES 14 and show a still further modified chain construction 104 generally similar to the chain illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 6 having spaced pairs of links 105 and 106 connected by pivot pins 107 with spacing rollers 108 therebetween. Certain of the links 105 and 106, however, have brackets 109, see FIGURE 15, for

mounting rollers 110. This type of chain rides in a housing 111 having opposed guide tracks 112 and 113 for the rollers 108 and opposed guide tracks 114 and 115 for engagement by the rollers 110.

It will now be observed that the present invention provides transmitting mechanism which is adapted to transmit compression forces through a flexible chain. It will be also observed that the present invention provide a motion transmitting mechanism for positively transmitting motion in opposite directions through either a straight or curved path. It will also be observed that the present invention provides a motion transmitting mechanism which either pushes or pulls the part to be moved. It will still further be observed that the present invention provides an improved motion transmitting mechanism which is of simple and compact construction, economical to manufacture and one which is reliable in operation.

While several embodiments of the invention are herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that further changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limitations in this respect, the invention is defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A motion transmitting mechanism having a mechanical advantage comprising a chain of connected links, at least some of said links having a bearing surface thereon, a cam having an inclined track and mounted to engage the bearing surfaces on said chain links in a direction transversely of the direction of movement of the chain, means for actuating the cam to engage the bearing surfaces successively and continuously advance the chain in one direction a distance equal to the spacing between bearing surfaces for each actuation of the cam, and guide tracks guiding chain links advanced by the cam to prevent lateral buckling of the advancing chain.

2. A motion transmitting mechanism in accordance with claim 1 in which the bearing surfaces are rollers mounted to rotate on the chain links, and the cam is a spiral track engaging the rollers on the chain links, successively.

3. A motion transmitting mechanism in accordance with claim 2 in which the cam comprises at least one disc having a spiral cam track with end portions overlapping one another radially to engage the bearing surface on one links at the inner periphery of the cam track simultaneously with the dis-engagement of the bearing surface with a preceding link at the outer periphery of the track.

4. A motion transmitting mechanism in accordance with claim 2 in which the guide tracks are formed by opposed parallel walls of a housing engaged by the rollers on the chain links to confine the links against lateral movement while providing a rolling surface to reduce friction.

5. A motion transmitting mechanism in accordance with claim 2 in which the adjacent links of the chain are connected by pins, the ends of the pins connecting the links projecting outwardly beyond the links, the rollers on the links are mounted on the outwardly projected ends of the pins, and said guide tracks engage the opposite sides of the rollers.

6. A motion transmitting mechanism in accordance with claim 2 in which the rollers are mounted on pins for connecting adjacent links, certain of the links are connected to rock on pins extending at right angles to the pins for mounting the rollers to permit the chain of connected links to pivot in two right angular directions.

7. A motion transmitting mechanism in accordance with claim 2 in which certain of the links have brackets projecting laterally therefrom, rollers mounted on said lateral projected brackets, and opposed pairs of guide tracks being engaged by the rollers between the links and projecting laterally from the links, respectively.

8. A motion transmitting mechanism in accordance with claim 4 in which a follower is mounted on the exterior of the housing having the guide tracks, and said follower having a member extending into engagement with the end of the chain in the housing to transmit motion from th interior to the exterior of the housing.

9. A motion transmitting mechanism comprising a chain of connected links having spaced side bars and overlapping ends, transverse pins connecting the overlapping ends of said links, rollers mounted on said .pins between the links, a cam disc having a spiral track at its outer periphery of progressively increasing radii equal to the distance between successive rollers of the chain of links, means for rotating the cam disc to engage the rollers on the pins of successive links, and guide tracks into which the chain links move to prevent lateral movement of the links advanced by the cam.

10. A motion transmitting mechanism in accordance with claim 9 in which the means for rotaing the cam disc is a worm and wheel.

11. A motion transmitting mechanism in accordance with claim 9 in which a ledge overlies one side of link being advanced, a slide overlies the other side of the link, said. slide being mounted in the guide track adjacent the link, and yielding means connected to the slide to overlie a link to be advanced whereby to prevent lateral movement of the chain link as it is being advanced by the cam.

12. A motion transmitting mechanism in accordance with claim 11 in which the yielding means comprises a lever pivotally mounted on the guide track intcrmediately its ends, a .pin and slot connection between one end of said lever and the slide, a spring connected between the opposite end of said lever and the guide track, and a pin on said cam disc engaging said lever to rock it and actuate the slide.

13. A motion transmitting mechanism in accordance with claim 9 in which a chain guide is provided which projects at substantially right angles to the direction of advance of the chain whereby to advance the chain through angularly related paths.

14. A motion transmitting mechanism in accordance with claim 9 in which the guide track is a housing having tracks at opposite sides engaged by the rollers on the pivot pins for connecting the links, a follower mounted to slide on the exterior of said housing, and a bearing member on said follower engaging the roller at the end of the chain for movement therewith.

15. A motion transmitting mechanism comprising a chain of connected links, pins for connecting adjacent links, said pins having ends projecting outwardly beyond the sides of the links, rollers mounted on the outwardly projecting ends of the pins, a cam disc having a cam track on its face for en aging the rollers on successive links, one after the other, and a guide track into which the chain of links is moved by the cam to prevent lateral movement as the chain is advanced.

16. A motion transmitting mechanism in accordance with claim 15 in which certain of the chain links are provided with rollers projected from opposite sides, and a pair of opposed cam discs each having a cam track for engaging the rollers at opposite sides of the chain whereby to advance the chain therebetween.

17. A motion transmitting mechanism in accordance with claim 16 in which the cam discs are mounted to rotate about axes angularly related to a medial plane therebetween, each disc having a .peripheral flange projecting at an angle to its axis to provide spaced parallel faces at one side having cam tracks engaging the rollers to advance the chain and spaced apart at the other side through which the chain may freely enter between the discs.

18. A motion transmitting mechanism in accordance with claim 15 in which the guide track comprises spaced rails projecting into the space between the cam discs at opposite sides of the links.

19. A motion transmitting mechanism comprising a chain of connected links, pins for pivotally connecting said links, pins projecting outwardly from certain of said links at an angle to the axis of the pivot pins, rollers on said outwardly projecting pins, a housing having guide tracks which curve through right angular paths, a cam disc having a continuous cam track on one face tangent to the curved path for engaging said projecting rollers to advance the chain through the housing a distance of one link into the housing during every revolution of the cam disc.

20. A motion transmiting mechanism in accordance with claim 19 in which rollers are provided on the projected ends of the pivot pins connecting said links, said housing having opposed parallel tracks at opposite sides of the chain to engage the rollers on the pivot pins connecting said links, and parallel tracks in said housing in a plane at right angles to the plane of said first cam track for engagement by said rollers projectitng from said links.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 898,550 9/1908 Broderick 74-245 954,116 4/ 1910 Lindner 7455 2,860,873 11/1958 Miles 74-8921 3,029,086 4/ 1962 Stokvis 74-245 FOREIGN PATENTS 722,528 7/ 1942 Germany.

FRED C. MA'ITERN, JR., Primary Examiner W. S. RATLIFF JR., Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 74245, 

